Mairéad Hickey & Fiachra Garvey - Melodic Masterworks by Brahms, McKay, Deirdre, Strauss, Od (2023/2023), National Concert Hall (NCH), Dublin, Ireland

Brahms’s Sonata No. 2, nicknamed “Thun” after a holiday he spent at Lake Thun in Switzerland, has been described as being “so full of melodies that one has to be careful not to step on any”, the perfect way to begin a recital dedicated to the power and appeal of beautiful melodies. Strauss was besotted with a soprano when he was writing his violin sonata and these amorous feelings can be heard throughout the work. The sonata places huge demands both lyrically and technically on both the violinist and pianist. McKay’s ethereal work, sandwiched between these two masterworks, offers the perfect calm before the Strauss storm.